Tenth hottest would still be really hot

In the Northern Hemisphere (America is located there), land surface temperature for June 2012 was the all-time warmest June on record, at 1.30°C (2.34°F) above average. (http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/sotc/global/2012/6/)

There are five "State of the Climate" global data markers used by NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmosphere Administration) to figure statistical averages, using sea and land temperatures. They do indeed tell us it has been the hottest year on record. Ocean surface temperatures alone were the 10th warmest in recorded history.

The letter-writer's statement, though, begs the question: If 2012 was the tenth hottest year in recorded history (since 1880), that would make it a really weird year nonetheless, don'tcha think?